Crowdfunder launched for new Lincoln City training ground

A crowdfunding website has been set up for Lincoln City fans to raise money for a new training ground for the club.

Cowleys’ Perfect Pitch is now the third fans’ fundraiser in as many seasons and there are hopes to raise £100,000 for the new facility after last season’s promotion to the English Football League and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Danny Cowley’s squad currently train at the Sobrian Barracks and use the club’s 4G pitch outside Sincil Bank, though facilities are not deemed state-of-the-art for a football league team to train on.

The Imps have recently been preparing for the upcoming season in good facilities in Portugal as part of warm-weather training.

So far, the crowdfunder has raised almost £10,000.

People who donate £50 will see their name on the roll of honour at the training ground and those who donate £100 will be invited to the VIP opening of the facility.

Campaign organiser Andy Helgeson, who also ran last year’s Cowley’s Campaign – which raised £27,500 on crowdfunder.co.uk – told The Lincolnite: “The aim is for the fans to raise £100,000 for a new training facility so the money doesn’t have to come out of the club’s playing budget.

“With all the extra fans this season it’s a great way for them to connect with the club and I really hope people can engage with the fund raiser so we can get this.”

The previous fundraisers have helped the club bring in Callum Howe, Nathan Arnold and Sean Raggett.

Lincoln have so far sold around 5,500 season tickets for their first season in the English Football League since being relegated in May 2011.